South Central Wake County

NAACP

Our History

Excerpts from South Central Wake County Branch History

In 1979, a number of Rhamkatte Black citizens, concerned with the increase in discrimination, racial incidents in their community and outright injustices perpetrated against Blacks, decided to organize an NAACP branch of its own. During the research stage, it was learned that consent from the established county area NAACP branches was required before an application would be considered by the National Office. The area branches would have to agree that a need existed and that another branch was wanted. The two (2) chartered branches in Wake County at the time were Raleigh-Apex, Rev. Charles Ward, President; and Wendell-Wake, Mary E. Perry, president. After consulting with the area branches, it was agreed that another branch was indeed wanted and needed.

During this period, a young Black teenager, a member of the Rhamkatte community was involved in a school bus accident that resulted in charges being filed against him for involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 17-year-old White teenage student. Wanting to assist this young Black teenager, the concerned citizens of the Rhamkatte community banned together with the two established N.A.A.C.P. branches, area churches, Black leaders, and community organizations and pooled its resources to assist this young man.

1980

The branch held its first branch meeting on May 29, 1980 with Mrs. Carolyn Coleman acting as chairperson since no officers had yet been elected. During this meeting nominations were made and votes cast for the interim officers who would serve until December 1980, pending an election. The following officers were selected by majority vote:

James F. White President

Reverend Marian Glenn Vice-President

Barbara Hinton Secretary

Linda Coley Assistant Secretary

William C. Glenn, Jr. Treasurer

Henry Edmond Parliamentarian

Having been selected President, Mr. James F. White began to preside over the meeting, replacing Ms. Coleman. Mr. White immediately appointed his Standing Committee Chairpersons as follows:

Publicity & Press Mary Thomas

Education Josephine Noble

Financial William Glenn, Jr.

Legal Redress Henry Edmonds

Membership Alyce Williams

Political Action Shirley Wright

The branch went one step further, deciding to give themselves a name. By majority vote the name South Central Wake N.A.A.C.P. Branch (Cary, Ashbury, and Rhamkatte area) was selected.

Ms. Coleman presented guidelines for the proper operation of an N.A.A.C.P. branch and highlighted some of the steps to be taken before taking specific actions in the name of the N.A.A.C.P. She reminded members that the basic principle of the N.A.A.C.P. is desegregation . . . not separate, but equal.

From 1980 to the present

Today, approximately 165 persons hold membership; fifty fully paid life, one golden heritage, and 15 subscribing life members. Following the national office's lead, the local branch continues to work for equality for all in economics, civil rights, education, etc.